Despite success against the pass, Cardinals' top priority on defense is stop the run

The Arizona Cardinals have had plenty of defensive struggles this season, contributing to their 3-10 record. However, they have one of the top pass defenses in the league. They are ranked fourth in the league against the pass, allowing only 210 yards per game.

Where they have struggled is against the run, where they are giving up nearly 140 yards per game, which ranks in the bottom three of the league.

It would appear they designed the defense to take the pass away, especially down the field, and limit opposing quarterbacks. That isn’t the case.

“Really the number one goal is to minimize the run game,” defensive coordinator Al Holcomb said on Thursday after practice. “Because if we minimize the run game and we make a team one-dimensional, then we can really be really aggressive in terms of our approach.”

It just happens to be they haven’t been consistent in the run game. They are right in the middle of the league in terms of yards per attempt, but teams run the ball more against the Cardinals than against any other team. That is the challenge for the Cardinals.

“If a team is 50-50, it’s hard as a playcaller to figure out if they’re going to run or throw it,” Holcomb said, “and at that point, you need the guys to react an play above the Xs and Os a little bit.”

There have been signs of improvement, but then they will miss tackles or have one bad drive.

The Cardinals’ success against the pass has been good. They want to do that. But it isn’t what they are trying to do first.